RAWALPINDI:
The investigation into a mega financial scandal involving the transfer of Rs 2 billion from the official accounts of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to private companies and personal accounts through demand deposit receipts (CDR) has widened.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has completed the interrogation of all former CEOs and directors of administration and finance of the GDR.
The current DG RDA, Kunza Murtaza, appeared before the NAB as a complainant.
Although the Punjab chief secretary’s high-level inquiry committee is yet to conclude its probe five months after its formation, the NAB has intensified its probe.
Two suspects have already been arrested.
According to sources, the scandal, which emerged in May this year, raised serious questions about the negligence and professional misconduct of officials who had the authority to approve banking transactions.
The NAB has questioned former managing directors Saif Anwar Jappa, Tahir Zafar Abbasi, Nadeem Ahmed Abro, Amara Khan and Chaudhry Maqbool Ahmed Dhawala, while former directors of administration and finance Asif Janjua, Malik Ghazanfar Awan, Imran Marth and Imran Qureshi were also questioned.
The noose is tightening around those allegedly involved in the GDR scandal.
It should be noted that the RDA financial scandal, which had gone undetected for six years by senior officials with signature authority in financial matters, specifically the RDA Director General and the Chief Financial Officer, was discovered in the second week of May this year. Notably, during the entire six-year period covered by the scandal, no former CEO or Director of Administration and Finance was called to account.
In July, the GDR administration began implementing key reforms to restore financial discipline. As an initial step, the implementation of irregular promotion was stopped and a revised framework for the financial authority was introduced.
escrow accounts
On the other hand, the National Accountability Bureau has directed the Rawalpindi Development Authority and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to establish escrow accounts and introduce QR code systems for all approved housing schemes.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting chaired by the Director General to discuss the creation of a digital portal for online verification of housing projects and individual plots.
The Rawalpindi NAB Chairman emphasized on transparency, accountability and public trust in the real estate sector.
He directed CDA and RDA officials to provide accurate and regularly updated data for the new system, ensuring public access to real-time information on approved projects.
Furthermore, the Director General directed both authorities to establish escrow accounts to monitor financial transactions of housing schemes and integrate QR codes for public verification.
He said the initiative will help curb corruption, fraud and unauthorized development activities.
Senior officials from NAB, CDA, RDA and their IT departments attended the meeting, where the technical framework and coordination mechanisms for timely implementation were discussed.
